Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) endorsed tea-party-affiliated Congressional candidate Thomas Massie today, giving the local elected official a boost as he faces a too-close-to-call primary Tuesday in Kentucky's 4th district.

"Tom understands the proper role of the federal government and that states possess certain powers on which the federal government may not intrude," Lee said in a statement. "I trust he will be a faithful and effective representative for the people of Kentucky."

Massie, who already has the backing of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R), faces state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington and Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Geoff Davis (R).

Webb-Edgington and Moore both have establishment backing, though Webb-Edgington is seen as the stronger candidate and is in a neck-and-neck contest with Massie. She has been endorsed by both Davis and former Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.).

Local Republicans see Massie, the Lewis County judge-executive, as having the momentum in the final days of the race, but with an expected voter universe of only 30,000-40,000 people, and seven candidates on the ballot, it is going to be a tight contest.

The winner of the GOP primary will almost certainly come to Congress from this Safe Republican district.